Invalid carrier



ch 24, 1936. 5. R. ELMICK INVALID CARRIER Filed Aug. 16, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 24, 1936. R, cK 2,035,116

INVALID CARRIER Filed Aug. 16, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 24, 193% Gillie R. Elmick, Tyler, Tex., assignor of fortyfive per cent to John H..Mitchell, Tyler, Tex.

Application August 16, 1934, Serial No. 740,195 g Claims.

This invention relates to the class of surgical apparatus and pertains particularly to an improved invalid carrier.

The primary object of the present invention is 5' to provide an apparatus by means of which an ill or seriously injured person may be picked up and moved without pain.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved invalid carrier in which the portion which directly contacts with the body of the invalid is so designed that the invalid may be gotten thereon without having his body rolled or picked A still further object is to provide an apparatus of the character described which is of simple construction and which may be readily moved about and actuated for the raising and lowering of an invalid with the least amount of effort.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showingof ,the drawings but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an invalid carrier constructed according to the preferred embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the body supporting member.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view partly in detail taken on the line 44 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the views, the invalid carrier comprises a frame structure which is made up of two upright elements which are indicated by the numeral I, and each of which is in the form of an inverted U, each having a horizontal top bar 2 and spaced parallel vertical bars 3. Each of these elements or units is preferably formed of tubular material for strength and lightness and the lower ends of the vertical portions are joined to the bottom horizontal bars 4. Each of these horizontal bars is connected at each end with a supporting castor 5.

Adjacent their upper ends, the standards or upright portions 3 of the two frame units l are joined by cross panels 6 upon the top edgeof each of which is secured a bearing 1. Extending 1ongitudinally of the frame and passing through the bearings l is a shaft Band at one end of the frame, this shaft has a ratchet wheel 9 secured thereto and a crank handle ID by which the shaft and ratchet wheel may berotated. Upon the panel 6 adjacent the ratchet wheel is pivotally mounted a pawl II, the bill of which constantly engages the ratchet wheel under the urge of the spring I2.

'Adjacent each end of the structure, the two horizontal bars or rails 2 are connected by a pair of spaced parallel pulley supporting bars, each of which is indicated by the numeral I3 and these pairs of bars l3 are apertured to receive two pulley shafts I4 upon each of which apulley I5 is secured.

The body supporting portion of the. carrier structure is indicated as a whole by the numeral l6 and is formed of a suitable light-sheet material, preferably sheet aluminum. This body carrying portion is formed in two parts, one of which comprises a relatively narrow side piece llwhich is joined at its ends in the wider, right angularly extending terminal portions l8, while-the other part of the body carrier consistsof a relatively narrow longitudinally extending piece of the sheet material which is indicated by the numeral l9 and which extends across the lateral portions l8 of the other portion, as illustrated, and has its ends turned under as indicated at 20 to form grooves or channels in which the portions I8 are slidably disposed at their outer edges.

The portions 18 of the body carrier are provided at each side of the carrier with apertures 2| in each of which a hook 22 may be engaged, which is connected with a rope or cable 23. Each rope or cable 23 passes over a pulley l5 and downwardly to and is joined to the shaft 8 in such a manner that when the shaft is rotated by means of the crank II], the cables or ropes will be wound up thereon and the body carrier 16 will be lifted. r

In the use of the present device, the hooks 22 are disconnected from the body carrier and the portion H is disposed at one side of the invalid and shifted so as to extend the end pieces l8 beneath the head or upper part of the invalids body and beneath his feet, the inner edge of the part I! being brought in as far beneath the body as is possible without having to shift the same. The other or straight portion IQ of the carrier is then moved in beneath the opposite side of the invalids body, the extensions l8 being slipped in beneath the flanges 20 so that the two parts of the carrier will be assembled in the manner illustrated in Figure 1. The hooks 22 of the lifting cables are then engaged in their respective apertures and the shaft 8 may be rotated to lift the body carrier and the body thereon. It Will thus be apparent that after the body has been lifted from the ground or from a bed, the entire structure may be readily moved upon the castors 5 so as to shift the invalid to any other desired location. The body carrier It may be slightlylongitudinally bowed as illustrated, so that an invalid will be more comfortable resting thereon than would be the case if it were made perfectly fiat.

In order that the ropes or cables 23 may be kept from becoming entangled one with the other, the shaft 8 has mounted thereon the two disk members 24, each of which is disposed be-- tween a pair of adjacent ropes or cables 23 and acts to prevent these adjacent cables or ropes from winding one upon the other.

W What -is claimed is:

;1. In an invalid carrier, a body carrying unit, comprising two elongated sheet-like members, a lateral relatively broad and sheet like extension'formed integral with one of the members at each end, the other member being of a length to extend at its ends across said lateral extensions whereby the latter rest against one surface of the said other member, meansconnecting the members to prevent relative longitudinal movement, and means facilitating the attachment of a lifting device to the carrier.

2. In an invalid carrier, a body carrying unit, comprising a pair of elongated members of sheet material, a broad lateral extension forming an integral part of one of said members at each end of the same, the other of the members being of a length to. extend at its ends across said lateral extensions, means forming a part of and extending across each end edge of the said other member for forming a sliding connection with the adjacent lateral extension whereby the relativelongitudinal movement of the members is prevented, and means facilitating the attachment of a lifting device to the carrier.

3. An invalid carrier, comprising two elongated bodies of sheet material, one of said bodies having an integral lateral extension of the same sheet material at each end and upon one side, each extension being relatively broad in the direction of the length of the body, the other of said bodies being of a length to extend at its ends over one side of each lateral extension, and meansforming a sliding coupling between the bodies whereby one of the bodies has unlimited movement transversely of the other.

4. An invalid carrier, comprising two elongated bodies of sheet materiaL'said bodies being of constant thickness throughout, one of said bodies having an integrallateral extension of the same sheet material at each end and upon one side, each extension being relatively broad in the direction of the length of the body, the other of said bodies being of a length to extend at its ends over one side face of each lateral extension, means forming a sliding coupling between the bodies whereby one body has unlimited movement transversely of the other body, and means facilitating the attachment of lifting elements to the carrier comprising apertures formed in the lateral extensions and in the body of which the extensions form a part whereby the passage of lifting elements through the apertures will act to prevent the separation of the bodies.

5. An invalid carrier, comprising two elongated bodies of sheet material, one of said bodies having an integral lateral extension'of the same sheet material at each end and upon one side,

each extension being relatively broad in the direction of the length of the body, the other of said bodies being of a length to extend at its ends over one side of each lateral extension, and a flange formed across each end edge of the said other one of the bodies and having spaced relation therewith to slideably receive the end edges of the lateral extensions whereby transverse relative movement of the two bodies is permitted but relative longitudinal movement is prevented.

GILLIE R. ELMICK. 

